About - Steinway & Sons About Countries Choose Country or Region Replay with sound 0:00 Steinway Today Master to apprentice, generation after generation, every Steinway is built with experience decades in the making — by artisans who take pride and time to humanize a piano still made by hand, who strive for and achieve continuous innovation and improvement. Every Steinway & Sons grand and upright is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and a consummate work of art. Each Steinway piano, consisting of more than 12,000 individual parts, has its own musical character and is as unique as the individual who plays it. “I love knowing that something I created will still be making music long after I am gone.” Jürgen Abelbeck Steinway Artisan, 36 Years Pure artistic expression has the power to touch, move and transform, and the Steinway piano exists to remove all barriers between the listener and the pure, uncompromised expression of the artist. Steinway Tomorrow The very first Steinway & Sons patent was granted in 1857, and since that time the company has been granted more than 125 additional patents, positioning the Steinway as the piano by which all others are judged.

Our company's latest innovation, the Steinway & Sons Spirio , is the world's finest high resolution player piano. A masterpiece of craftsmanship, technology and artistry, Spirio provides an unrivaled musical experience, indistinguishable from a live performance. “Incredible, what this piano can do! To sit and hear myself — without playing. The contrast is amazing; it’s a real performance.” Olga Kern Steinway Artist STEINWAY IN HISTORY Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 by German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway in a Manhattan loft on Varick Street. Over the next thirty years, Henry and his sons developed the modern piano. They built their pianos one at a time, applying skills that have been handed down from master to apprentice, generation after generation, ever since. The Steinway piano became the choice for ninety-eight percent of concertizing artists , none of whom are compensated to endorse the instrument. The Steinway earned a reputation as an investment for the owner in the legacy of future generations. Dear Mr. Steinway, I am very happy to have the opportunity of using your pianos for my concerts. I consider them to be perfect in every way.

Faithfully yours, Sergei Rachmaninoff Steinway Immortal To call a genuine grand or upright piano of Steinway & Sons one’s own is an overwhelming feeling. Far more than just an exquisite instrument, it is an instrument of the highest expression and creativity. A Steinway piano intimately connects artist and listener, and invites its owner to join a tradition of musical perfection, making it an invaluable investment. Steinway Locations Steinway & Sons retail locations can be found at cultural centers worldwide, including those below: Steinway & Sons 1 Steinway Pl Long Island City, NY Pianos-Manufacturers - MapQuest See a problem? Let us know! Founded in 1853, Steinway & Sons is a musical instrument dealer offering a variety of pianos throughout the world. The company offers various collections of pianos, such as art case, legendary, crown jewel and limited collection, and ebony grands and verticals. The company also markets other brands, such as Boston and Essex. The Boston brand is targeted for the traditional general piano markets. Boston pianos are designed by Steinway, using Steinway patents, and are manufactured by Kawai in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Its Web site offers information on the technical aspects and maintenance of pianos. The company also offers maintenance, repair and servicing of pianos it sells. Steinway & Sons is headquartered in Long Island City, N.Y., and has locations in Germany, Japan, China and the United Kingdom. Steinway Pianos in Portland, OR - New, Used and Pre-Owned Steinway Pianos Digital Pianos Michelle’s Piano of Portland Or is the Official Steinway Dealership Of Portland OR. Michelle’s piano of Portland, OR offers a huge selection of new and pre-owned Steinways. Our showroom features many different types of new and used Steinway pianos that are in top condition. Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Handcrafting each Steinway requires up to one full year – creating an instrument of quality and global renown. Steinway pianos have 160 years of history in the piano world and industry. Currently Steinway pianos are one of the most sought out brand of piano because of the incredible craftsmanship.

Founded in New York in 1853 by H.E Steinway, Steinway & Sons created many innovations that many of the major piano manufacturers still use to this day. This innovations that H.E. Steinway created paved the way for the process that is now the prototype of the current modern piano. Many of the same features and innovations designed by H.E. Steinway are currently being implemented in pianos being manufactured today. Currently Steinway is a leader in it’s class. It’s still regarded as the top choose for piano concerts, piano recitals, and piano composers. Steinways were chosen by around 98 percent of the 360 pianists who performed major recitals around the world during the 20011/2012 concert season, according to the company’s own survey. Come down to our Portland location and see what Steinway pianos we have to offer. Our showroom features many Steinway models and you can hear the wonderful music they offer.

Finish : Ebony Polish with Macassar Ebony Length : 6 Feet 11 Inches Portland Steinway - Official Steinway Piano Dealer in Portland OR Contact Steinway Pianos Michelle’s Piano is the official Steinway & Sons Piano Dealership in Portland, OR. We offer the largest selection of new and pre-owned Steinway Pianos in Oregon. Our showroom features many new and used Steinway & Sons pianos that are at the best prices available. Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Handcrafting each Steinway requires up to one full year – creating an instrument of quality and global renown. Steinway pianos have 160 years of history in the piano world and industry. Currently Steinway pianos are one of the most sought out brand of piano because of the incredible craftsmanship. Call Michelles Piano to Discuss Your New Steinway Piano 503-295-1180 History of Steinway Founded in New York in 1853 by H.E Steinweg, Steinway & Sons created many innovations that many of the major piano manufacturers still use to this day. This innovations that H.E.

Steinweg created paved the way for the process that is now the prototype of the current modern piano. Many of the same features and innovations designed by H.E. Steinweg are currently being implemented in pianos being manufactured today. Read more about the history of Steinway Pianos who plays steinway pianos? Famous Pianists such as: Harry Connick, Jr., Billy Joel, Evgeny Kissin, Burkard Schliessmann, Diana Krall, Lang Lang, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Benjamin Britten, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Vladimir Horowitz, Cole Porter and Sergei Rachmaninoff Read more about who plays Steinway Pianos where are steinway pianos made? All Steinway pianos are handmade in either Astoria, New York or Hamburg, Germany. To this day Steinway & Sons still uses many of the same techniques they first invented by the Steinway family. Each Steinway Piano is handmade over the course of one full year and every Steinway piano is checked for perfection. Approximately 2,500 Steinway Pianos are produced each year. Read more about where Steinway Pianos are made.

More information about Steinway pianos Looking for information about how Steinway serial numbers work? How to find out which year your Steinway piano was built? How to find out more about purchasing a Steinway piano? Looking for frequently asked questions (faq’s) about Steinway pianos? Check out our Steinway Piano Information Center here. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This iframe contains the logic required to handle AJAX powered Gravity Forms. Mon - Sat 10:00a - 6:00p Steinway Hall, Steinway & Sons' Global Flagship Opens Today In Midtown Manhattan Steinway Hall, Steinway & Sons' Global Flagship Opens Today In Midtown Manhattan Tweet Share NEW YORK, April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Steinway & Sons, manufacturer of the world's finest pianos, has announced the unveiling of the company's new global flagship, Steinway Hall at 1133 Avenue of the Americas. Opening today in midtown Manhattan, the stunning two-level retail and performance space has been designed by the internationally renowned Selldorf Architects, recognized for their work within the art world.

The new location will bring together Steinway's remarkable heritage with exciting new musical and technological innovations in a contemporary setting. In doing so, the venue will address how today's customers experience and select a piano, in addition to better serving the needs of the Steinway Artist community. View photos Steinway Hall More Steinway Hall will become a cultural destination in the heart of New York City, supporting the brand's position as a leading ambassador for the musical arts. Totaling 19,000 square feet, the new flagship will not only serve as a retail space, but also house a 74-seat recital hall with a state-of-the-art custom Steinway Lyngdorf sound system, live-streaming capabilities that will allow musicians and audiences from around the world to connect, rehearsal studios for artists and students, a recording studio where performances for the new Steinway Spirio will be captured, and the fabled Steinway & Sons Concert & Artist Piano Bank.

According to Michael Sweeney, CEO of Steinway & Sons, "This is only the third Steinway Hall to be built in New York over the past 163 years, so there was an inherent desire to create something truly special that will become an exciting new part of the company's history and the history of this city." Sweeney adds, "This is more than a beautiful showroom where one can buy an extraordinary instrument. The new Steinway Hall will be a convivial gathering place where artists come together to collaborate, and where the public can meet to enjoy a wide range of musical programming that continues our tradition of celebrating arts and culture." Annabelle Selldorf, Principal of Selldorf Architects, states, "Working with Steinway & Sons in New York City has been a great experience and a privilege for us. The task was to translate the passion and care that the company devotes to building instruments of the highest quality into a space which also broadens their reach and their welcoming attitude in the city. We designed a new home for Steinway that is inviting for everyone whether they come to listen to a recital, purchase a piano or record in the studio, and even for those who are just passing by along Avenue of the Americas.

I believe that we have created an extraordinary destination for music that embodies Steinway &Sons' heritage of excellence and craftsmanship." Inside Steinway Hall, guests will find many details that reference the materials, craftsmanship and instruments that the company is lauded for, from end-grain oak flooring to recital hall seats covered in an Imperial Yellow fabric that is the same color found inside the action of a Steinway & Sons piano. Other features include a custom, bentwood decorative ceiling, and acoustic paneling in the concert hall that evokes the exquisite woods used to make each Steinway. Read More An artistic centerpiece of the new Steinway & Sons New York will be an installation by the artist Spencer Finch. Entitled Newton's Theory of Color and Music (The Goldberg Variations), the work is an interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Goldberg Variations" that explores the intersection of music, color and emotion, through light. An additional 20,000 square feet of office space on the 33rd floor of the building has also been leased from the Durst Organization to serve as Steinway & Sons' global headquarters, bringing the Steinway Hall project to nearly 40,000 square feet in total.

About Steinway & Sons Since its founding in New York in 1853, Steinway & Sons has been considered the world's premier piano manufacturer. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, Steinway & Sons pianos are built in one of two company-owned and operated factories: Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany. Steinway & Sons pianos are still constructed primarily by hand, using many of the techniques developed over 160 years ago. Today, Steinway & Sons also offers the Boston and Essex piano lines, Listen, a magazine for music and culture lovers, and the Steinway & Sons record label. For more information, visit . About Selldorf Architects Selldorf Architects is a New York City-based architectural design practice founded by Principal Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA, in 1988. The firm's work encompasses public and private projects that range from museums and libraries to a recycling facility. Clients include the Neue Galerie New York, the Clark Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Brown University and numerous galleries for David Zwirner and Hauser & Wirth among others.

View photos Piano History | History of Steinway Pianos | Restored Steinway Posted on October 26, 2016 at 4:13 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Restoration , Steinway Pianos / 0 Steinway Model D Grand Piano #52626 | A Beautiful Past For A Beautiful Piano There’s an old saying, “If these walls could talk, they’d tell you a story or two.” A concert grand piano from Steinway & Sons will last for generations and over time they accumulate a rich and beautiful history. As one of the greatest piano manufacturers in the world, Steinway pianos are used in venues and by musicians across the globe. Over time, these pianos will see their fair share of usage, and pass through many hands. At Chupp’s Piano Service , we specialize in restoring these beautiful pianos back to playing perfection, and today, we want to shine a little spotlight on a beautiful piano that we are proud to feature – Steinway Model D Grand Piano #52626. The Origin of the Modern Concert Grand In 1884, a major step forward occurred in the development of the mature concert grand piano- the Model D.

The then new Model D was designed and created by incredibly talented craftsman C.F. Theodore Steinway. This new design was the first Steinway Grand to feature a double cupola plate. It featured a 20 note bass section, was overstrung, had a continuous soundboard bridge, and a bent rim case construction. These pianos featured agraffes from notes 1-35 and a capo d’astro bar from notes 36-88. Measuring 8’10” in length with 7 ¼ octaves, these pianos are an essential piece of the piano development puzzle. “Style D has an entirely new interior construction with double cupola steel frame and continuous ring bridge. The improvement in power and sonority of tone is simply marvelous.” – William Steinway, September 1, 1884. Posted on August 4, 2016 at 2:16 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Restoration / 0 Fully Rebuilt Steinway Model A3 Grand Piano | Very Rare Quarter Sawn Oak The golden era of piano manufacturing saw high quality and continued innovation become the standard within the industry.

Over 300 piano manufacturers in the United States alone competed to craft the best pianos possible. One of the most unique and well designed instruments during this period was the Steinway Model A-3 Grand Piano. These 6′ 4 1/2″ grand pianos are some of the finest pianos ever produced by the Steinway & Sons Company. Steinway Model A3 #188826 was built in 1917, during the peak of the company’s golden era. This particular instrument is special not just for its amazingly well crafted scale design but for its rare cabinet woodwork as well. This piano features a very rare and unique quarter sawn oak cabinet. Used extensively in the past it is more labor intensive and expensive to produced. It is quite rare to find Steinway grand pianos with this desirable grain pattern. A Rare Favorite The Steinway Model A-3 has long been a favorite scale design of piano technicians and professional musicians. Discontinued in 1945 due to the competition it created for the larger and pricier Steinway Model B, the Model A-3 is a rare instrument well deserving of the respect it receives.

The Model A-3 has become one of our favorite Steinway scale designs and we are proud to feature several of these vintage instruments in our facilities today. Posted on July 28, 2016 at 1:11 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Steinway Pianos / 0 The Origin and History of the Steinway Model C Grand Piano The Steinway Model B measures 6’11” in length while the Model D is 8’11”. But what about the piano that comes in between these two? The Steinway & Sons Model C Semi-Concert Grand Piano is an instrument that is often forgotten about – at least by some of us here in North America. Here is a quick history of the lineage of the Semi-Concert Model C. The Steinway Model C’s Origin The 7’2” Steinway and Sons Model C was first manufactured in 1878 with Steinway #38675 being the first in the series to be completed on 8/24/1878. These seven-octave, 85-note pianos were based upon the earlier Parlor Grands built by Steinway.

The Model C, 85-note piano was also known as the Style 3 in catalogues. The scale design featured a 21 note bass section and was redesigned from the earlier parlor grand piano by C.F. Theodore Steinway. The Model C was introduced during a time of advancement for the Steinway Company. The early Model C was first produced with a sectional case design, and in 1880 production of Model Cs with a more modern style bent-rim case began. The 85-note Model C/Style 3 was in production until 1886. Posted on July 6, 2016 at 4:41 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Pianos / 0 From 1854 to Today | Mason & Hamlin The tale of the Mason & Hamlin’s rise to the top of the piano world is an interesting piece of history, dating back to the mid 19th century. Now normally, the first name to come to mind when thinking of premium pianos is probably the venerable Steinway & Sons company. Steinway has long enjoyed a spot at the top of American piano manufacturers in both artists’ use and public opinion.

However it would be very remiss to ignore the contributions and the ongoing history of another leading piano maker, Mason & Hamlin. Created one year after the founding of Steinway & Sons in 1854, Mason & Hamlin quickly asserted themselves as a company dedicated to handcrafted quality and today is one of only two fully operational piano manufacturers in the United States today (with the other being their longtime competitor, Steinway). Posted on March 21, 2016 at 2:53 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Pianos , Steinway Pianos The Steinway Model D Benchmark The World’s Standard For Concert Grand Pianos The Steinway & Sons Model D grand piano is one which signifies an instrument’s grace, power, and delicacy unlike any other. Measuring at 8’11 3/4″ in length, the Model D towers above regular grand pianos, which are usually around 5’6” to 6’ long. Truly the pinnacle of Steinway’s historic dedication to innovation and top shelf craftsmanship, the thousand pound Model D-274 truly is the standard by which other concert pianos are judged against.

Decades of craftsmanship and development, signified and represented by one instrument it has long been considered the first choice of concert pianists. Posted on March 10, 2016 at 2:55 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Pianos A Basic Overview & What You Need to Know The grand piano is one of, if not the most distinctive and recognizable instruments in history. Invented in the early 1600s by inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori, the piano has a long and rich history. The mention of a grand piano may conjure up images of a shiny black cabinet and seemingly countless black and white keys. But while the outside is magnificent, the inside is where the heart of the piano truly lies. There are over 12,000 parts in a ‘basic’ Steinway grand piano and the vast majority of them are held in the interior of the cabinet. The piano truly is a modern mechanical marvel! Here is a quick rundown of the basic interior parts of a grand piano. The Plate When lifting the lid and looking inside, the first piano part you probably will notice is the large cast iron plate.

Although colors and casting methods vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, the basic function of the plate stays the same. The plate (sometimes called the piano’s harp) serves as the backbone for the piano. The strings are affixed to the plate and the pins in the pinblock, so it must be able to withstand up to 40,000 pounds of tension. The large holes you see on the plate are cooling holes, which allow the cast metal to cool evenly. Usually the plate features various patent information and logos from the manufacturer. (You have to put your branding somewhere!) Posted on February 11, 2016 at 5:15 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Pianos , Tips The Steinway Model A Family | What’s the Difference? Question: “I was looking at Steinway Model A pianos and noticed that there are pianos labeled Model A-1, A-2 and A-3 and it is getting a bit confusing. What is the difference between these models of Steinway pianos? The First Model A Grand Piano | 1878 The Model A family of pianos consists of several 6′ variants in Steinway’s line of grand pianos.

The A-1, A-2 and A-3 are all in the same family, yet there are some distinct differences, and even differences within those models. Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 and the first Model A, the A-1 was first introduced back in 1878. This piano measured 6’ in length. This piano was an 85 note piano and the scale design was scaled down from the larger Model B. When first introduced the Model A was actually the smallest of all of the grand pianos built and sold by Steinway. (This was before the introduction of the Models S, O, L or M.) The scale design was crafted by C.F. Theodore Steinway, an innovative man credited with many of the patents and technical advances introduced by Steinway in their early days of operation. This model was fairly historic in terms of innovation and introduced the bent-rim case construction, which allowed for a better transfer of soundboard vibrations, a technique still in use today.

Posted on November 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History , Steinway Pianos Steinway & Sons | A Basic History In the early part of the 20th century there were more than 300 piano manufacturers in the United States alone, churning pianos out of factories large and small at a rapid pace. A piano was THE luxury item that everyone wanted in their home. If you didn’t have one already you wanted one and if you had one, you probably wanted to upgrade to a better one. Today, few of these companies remain in business, victims of changing taste and economic swings. However Steinway & Sons continues on. The Steinway name is everywhere. From the cabinets of living room baby grand pianos to the foremost concert venues in the world, the mention of Steinway still commands a deep respect for the instruments and the music artists create with them. Here is a basic history of this famed business. The Founding of Steinway: The company was founded on March 5, 1853 by Henry Engelhard Steinway.

An immigrant from Germany, he had already built 482 pianos by the time he founded the new company in New York, New York. His first Steinway & Sons piano sold to a local family for the price of five hundred dollars. The company grew rapidly. So rapidly that within a year he moved the business to a larger facility on Walker Street. By the 1860s a new factory housed the piano manufacturing and a workforce of 350 were producing over 1,800 pianos a year. In the early days of Steinway, new ideas and innovation were key to their success. The famed duplex scale, overstrung bass strings and many other industry changing designs were developed during this time. The Steinway piano did battle against other popular brands during this time, including Mason & Hamlin, Chickering and Sons and more. The company secured many awards at various trade fairs, which bolstered the reputation of the instruments. The Steinway name had been cemented as one linked to quality and new ideas. Expansion and the World War: It was clear at that point that Steinway pianos were there to stay and the company continued to push through rapid growth.

To reach the European market, William Steinway and C.F. Theodore Steinway built a factory in Hamburg, Germany in the year 1880. Hamburg Steinway Pianos share many of the same innovations and techniques as their New York brothers, and designers share ideas between the two factories. However there are differences that make these instruments unique and sometimes preferred by artists. Speaking of artists, in the early 1870s the Steinway artists program was born. This program where pianists are supplied the best Steinway & Sons pianos is a useful promotion for both the company and the artist themselves. (Other companies have utilized the same formula, but Steinway has had the most success by far.) Posted on September 2, 2015 at 2:05 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History / 0 The History of the Piano The piano is one of, if not the most popular instrument in the world. Millions have been introduced to music through piano lessons and the mention of the name ‘Steinway’ still invokes a feeling of class and grandeur. The piano has come in all shapes and sizes over its long and varied history.

But the piano didn’t begin as the ‘king of instruments’, it had to start somewhere! The Origin of the Instrument In the early 1700s a harpsichord maker by the name of Bartolomeo di Franceso Cristofori developed the first piano. A well respected Italian craftsman and inventor, he worked for Prince Ferdinando de Medici. His first ‘gravicembalo col piano e forte’ was exhibited in Florence in 1709. The advantage his instrument had over the similar harpsichord was the ability for the musician to vary the volume. A harpsichord could not play notes at different levels of sound, due to the way the strings were plucked. The piano with its hammers on the other hand, could. A few of his instruments have survived and one of his early creations is currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

(In playable condition.) Posted on August 24, 2015 at 1:16 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History LISTEN: The Earliest Known Piano in Existence: In the early 1700s, Bartolomeo Cristofori invented what would become the ‘king of instruments’, the piano. The early pianos were a vast improvement over their immediate predecessors the harpsichord. The pianos had a wider range and the hammers hit the strings instead of plucking them, allowing the musician to vary the volume of their notes. (An obvious plus.) But what did the first piano sound like? The early pianos sounded quite different from the modern instruments that we know today. The early pianos lacked a metal plate, were quite light and lacked the range of pianos today. One good way to describe the sound they produced, is that they sounded like a mix between the earlier harpsichords and a modern piano. The Cristofori Piano that resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has been restored to playable condition.

Posted on July 14, 2014 at 8:04 pm by Dennis Chupp / Piano History / 0 Musical Composition Altered by Invention of Piano Some of the best music of all time was written by Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer of the early 1700s. Today’s pianists sometimes notice that much of Bach’s work was composed in the same three octaves, but what they don’t realize is that the piano as we know it today did not exist when he began composing. Bach’s compositions were created on organs and harpsichords. It was only in 1747, during a visit to King Frederick II, that Bach experimented with the piano. Ottley Music School: Historical Instruments Historical Instrument--ca. 1890 Grotrian Steinweg Grand Piano Both Grotrian-Steinweg and Steinway & Sons derive from Heinrich Englehard Steinweg and the building of his first piano in 1835 at the family's hometown of Seesen, Harz, Germany.

Following the 1848 revolution in Germany, Heinrich and most of the family emigrated to the USA in 1850 and founded Steinway in New York in 1853. Meanwhile the eldest son, Christian Friedrich Theodor Steinweg continued the family business in Germany. He was joined in 1858 by Friedrich Grotrian (1803-1860) who, on inheriting a substantial sum from an uncle, had sold his musical instrument business in Moscow and returned to his German homeland of Braunschweig. Unfortunately Friedrich died two years later, but his son Wilhelm joined the company, then called Grotrian Steinweg. Theodor, on the deaths of two of his brothers at Steinway in 1865, sold his share in the business to his partners and joined Steinway & Sons in New York. So the Steinweg company was then owned by Wilhelm Grotrian, Adolf Helfferich and HOW Schulz. Needing new premises the company moved to Braunschweig in 1859.

The family name Grotrian Steinweg was adopted by Wilhelm's sons Willi and Kurt in 1919 (hyphenated from 1926) and the company remains under the auspices of the family at Braunschweig where it still makes about 1,000 pianos per year in enlarged premises. It was the same year that the Oberlin Conservatory was founded in Oberlin, Ohio, USA. This 6'8" Steinweg grand was purchased by Ms. Ottley in the late 1990s from its rebuilder, Kun Hee Lee, who had purchased it from its original owner, a very old German lady living in northern Virginia. It still has the seal of the store where it was purchased in Munchen, Germany on the cover. The piano wasbuilt around the 1880s, and still has a beautiful tone. Historical Instrument--1887-1888 Estey Harmonium The Estey Organ Company was founded in 1846. "The Estey Organ Company manufactured excellent reed organs for more than half a century before engaging the Roosevelt-trained Philadelphia builder, William E.

Haskell(1865-1927), to open the pipe organ department in 1901. During the next fifty-nine years, the company built and rebuilt 3261 pipe organs, and with one exception, all of the Estey instruments had tubular-pneumatic or electro-pneumatic action. The large Estey factory continued to build reed organs, and Estey also dealt in Rieger tracker organs in the 1950's. "During the first decades of the century, the Estey catalogs described standard designs, the stoplists having no upperwork but that Haskell specialty, a labial reed stop. The stop actions included such oddities as the "stop key" and "luminous" types, and while the organs were built of excellent materials, they were often so compact that maintenance was expensive and nearly impossible to perform. Estey concentrated on stock model two-manual instruments and regarded any deviation in size and specification as a "Special" job. Most of the older organs were sold through agents and Estey stores, and a company policy forbid any dealing in old organs replaced by Esteys.

Many organs shipped to the stores or music dealers were not immediately set up in a permanent location, and some with "Store" on the list remained unsold for years. Player organs (called "Automatics" were popular until the 1930's and for a few years around 1930, "Minuette" models that vaguely resembled grand and upright pianos were build on the unit system. "Many older Americans still have a great respect for Estey tone, and the firm's name was indeed a household word throughout the world." The Estey Organ in the Ottley Music School belongs to Mr. Adjahoe and Mrs. Ottley, salvaged from the Macedonia Union African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Providence, Rhode Island. The organ was built between 1887-1888, about the same time that church was founded, and was probably their first instrument. In 2001 the church changed its musical format, using a Hammond with drums and had no need for this beautiful instrument. It was designed on the same plan as its European counterparts, and Ottley Music School uses it for performances of such composers as Rossini and Dvorak.

It has already been used in performances of Rossini's "Petite Messe Solonelle" and Gounod's "O Divine Redeemer" at Clarice Smith's Gildenhorn Recital Hall. Organists were 14-year-old student, William J. Moore, and Nevilla E. Ottley. Singers included John LeSane of the Washington Opera, and at that time, 13-year-old coloratura, Nichelle Anderson. Historical Instrument--1908 Erard Grand Piano This Erard grand piano in rosewood, serial number 94154, was manufactured [Par Bievet d'Invention Seb. & Pre. Erard] at 13 + 21 Rue de Mail, Paris in 1908. It is 6'6" long and with a full eight-octave range. It was sold from Sautier & Jaeger Pianos, etc. in Geneva, for their sticker was still on the front of the fall cover when we received it. Erard pianos were the biggest and most admired concert instruments during the early and mid 19th century.

Sebastian Erard, also known for manufacturing harps, made his early pianos for Napoleon Bonaparte, and Joseph Haydn. In 1802 the firm gave a complimentary instrument to Ludwig van Beethoven. Chopin, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Moscheles, Herz, Verdi and Faure are just a few of the famous composers who owned Erard Pianos. In 1821, Erard invented the double-escapement piano action, which served as the prototype for the modern piano action perfected by Theodor Steinweg, for the Grotrian Steinweg and the Steinway and Sons pianos. The new action made it possible to play a series of repeated notes with great ease and speed, and it also produced a wide range of dynamic shadings. The Erard piano at the Ottley Music School was donated to Ms. Ottley in 2001 for the school to either use it or dispose of it. It was in very poor shape, but in the eyes Dr.

Edward Swenson of New York (singer, historian and rebuilder of vintage Erards), who was referred to us by several Erard piano aficionados around the country, he saw its potential. The restored parts (except for the keys) came from various Belgium and France. Dr. Swenson was careful to preserve the orginal inscription as seen in the last photo. This beautiful instrument is being used by its owner for teaching in Ottley Music School, and is one of the few Erards in the Washington, D. C. area. It has a beautiful sweet tone, and according to some of the teachers, it "plays itself". Historical Piano, 1914 C. Kurtzmann The Ottley Music School has a C. Kurtzmann piano of Buffalo New York, a 6'8" grand built in 1914. It was donated to the Ottley Music School by pianist Granville Klink. He the son of the late legendary Washington DC broadcaster, Granville "Granny" Klink (1909-1997) of WTOP Granville, Jr. studied pianist Felicia Rybier, who escaped to the USA in 1938.

She was a pianist with the Warsaw Orchestra in the 1930s. Granville studied with her from 1955-1961. He attended school at Peabody Conservatory . He was the director of the New Sunshine Jazz Band, and collected piano rolls of Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Scott Joplin, and James P. Johnson. He was known for his transcriptions of their piano rolls. The Kurtzmann piano is used for recitals in the Atrium Stage of UTC's Building 3 monthly. Historical Instrument--1917 Steiff Upright Grand The Stieff Company was founded in 1892 in Baltimore, Maryland by Charles Stieff, grandson of the piano maker. According to a 1937 Stieff catalogue, they were "Makers of sterling silver and 14-K gold. The Schofield Co. was purchased in 1967 and in 1979 The Stieff Company purchased Samuel Kirk & Son, Inc. and changed the firm's name to The Kirk Stieff Company. To this date, Stieff pianos still exist in the Washington/Baltimore area.

This 1917 instrument, was bought by Nevilla Ottley in 1972 for $50 from a girls school that no longer wanted it. It was repaired for $175, replacing the flanges. It has been consistently used for teaching even after the Steinway and other historical pianos were purchased. It has a solid sound, holds its pitch, and has a resounding lower sound, as if amplified. It was rebuilt by Schaeffer and Sons of Rockville, Maryland in 1996. Schaeffer's Piano Company telephone number is 301-424-1144. To change from teaching music and languages to dealing in pianos, and finally to become the founder of one of the largest and most respected piano manufacturing firms, was the career of Charles Maximilian Stieff. Born in Wurtembrug on July 19, 1805, Stieff was educated at Stuttgart. In 1831 he emigrated to America and settled at Baltimore, where he took the chair in Haspart's school as professor of languages and also acted as leader of a church choir.

In 1842 he imported his first pianos from Germany, and opened regular piano warerooms on Liberty Street in 1843. Observing the success of the various piano manufacturers in Baltimore, Stieff undertook an extensive trip to Europe in 1852, studying the methods of the best piano manufacturers there. Upon his return he admitted his sons into partnership and started the manufacture of the "Stieff" piano, intrusting the management of the factory to Jacob Gross, an expert piano maker of the old school. Born in Wurtemburg on July 26, 1819, Gross learned his trade in Stuttgart and afterward worked in some of the leading factories of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Paris. Coming to America in 1848, he familiarized himself with the methods prevailing here, working in Troy, NY then going to Baltimore. He had worked for the Stieff Piano Factory from 1856, and on Christmas day, 1860 he had married Catharina Christiana Stieff (1833-1906), daughter of Charles Maximilian Stieff, owner.

His joining the Stieff family business was an excellent combination, the professional musician and businessman, Stieff, supported by the artistic piano maker and factory expert, Gross. The product of the firm was at once accepted as of superior merit and received distinguished awards wherever exhibited. The founder of the firm having passed to the unknown beyond, the business was carried on most successfully by his sons, Charles and Frederick P. Stieff, the technical management of the factories being in the hands of Charles J. Gross, who was educated by his father, Jacob Gross. It was remarkable that the great fire which destroyed nearly the entire business portion of the city of Baltimore in 1904 should stop short in its northward flight on the wall of the Stieff building, on North Libery Street, just as if it had had respect for this landmark where the Stieffs had sold pianos for 63 years. The firm of Charles M. Stieff used to distribute its products almost entirely through its own stores, which were found in every prominent city of the southern States, as well as at Boston and elsewhere. This wonderful instrument is still used in teaching piano on a daily basis as it was the first done when purchased in Mrs.

Ottley's first piano studio in 1973. It has a wonderful warm tone. At one time, her elderly father, Neville E. Ottley (born 1914) asked her why she put speakers in the piano, as the sound resounded on the wooden floors in her home at that time. Historical Instrument--1925 Steinway O model grand piano Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (1797-1871). Henry (Heinrich in German) lost most of his family when he was young. Several brothers were killed during the Napoleonic war, and he lost his father and remaining brother at age 15. Although he had no musical training, he displayed a talent in building musical instruments. The first instrument he built was a zither. In 1818, he started work in an organ builder's shop, learned how to play the organ, and became a church organist. He built his first piano in his kitchen in Seesen, which he presented to his bride Juliane Thiemer in February 1825 as a wedding gift. They later had seven children.

The uprisings of 1848-49 in Germany did not leave the Steinweg family untouched. The business suffered and so he left for America in 1850, one year after his son Henry left for the new world. Upon arriving in America, he and his sons worked in a piano factory. He then founded Steinway & Sons on March 5, 1853. The first factory was located at 81 Walker Street, in Manhattan. A new factory was founded in 1859 at Park Avenue and 53rd Street, the present site of the Seagrams Building, where it covered a whole block. All the children, with the exception of Christian Friedrich Theodor (1825-1889), who had remained in Germany, worked in the business. Christian Friedrich Theodor came to the US in 1865 to help manage the family business, which shortly afterwards moved to Astoria, Long Island, where it now comprises an enormous complex on Steinway Street. In 1871, Henry Sr. died and sons C.F. Theodor and William took over operations. An accomplished pianist, C.F.

Theodor was responsible for the technical aspects of piano making and personally earned the company 41 patents, including one in 1875 for the modern concert grand piano. In the same year, William helped establish a showroom in London. Five years later, in 1880, the Hamburg factory began operating and a retail operation, the Steinway-Haus, was established. Another retail operation opened in Berlin in 1909. The American firm prospered swiftly with new improvements in pianos, including over strung scale a cast-iron frame. They also built the first upright piano in 1866. The Steinways were not only piano builders. They also had an impact on the culture and structural development of New York City. In 1866 Steinway & Sons opened the first Steinway Hall on 14th Street. With a main auditorium of 2,000 seats, it became New York City's artistic and cultural center, housing the New York Philharmonic until Carnegie Hall opened in 1891.

William (1835-1896), president of Steinway & Sons (1876-96), was the first chairman of Rapid Transit Commission of New York City, which planned New York' s first subway. The first Steinway grand was presented to the White House in 1903 during President Theodore Roosevelt's term. On December 10, 1938 Theodore E. Steinway presented the "golden grand" to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This was the 300,000th instrument build by the firm and it can be seen on tours of the White House in the East Room. Another Steinway grand, on which President Henry S. Truman frequently played, now stands in the Truman Library of Independence. The 5'11" Steinway grand in the Ottley Music School was purchased by Nevilla Ottley in the early 1980s from Ann Foster of Pennsylvania. Ms. Ottley has used that piano for teaching and for performances ever since.

Historical Instrument--Violin Ottley Music School owns and uses weekly the practice violin of the late Abram Moses, concert master of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 1880-1953. It was given to the Ottley Music School by his daughter, Cece Litchenstein in about 2003 and is used by the teachers in the OMS while teaching their lessons. Even though it was a practice violin by the great master, it is the favorite violin of the teachers.

Question: Founded in New York in 1853, Steinway & Sons manufactures what type of musical instrument?
Answer: Pianos